Counsellors are asking to be brought into the Medicare Benefits Scheme as growing demand for mental health services in rural, regional and remote areas wait times increase.
Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) president Di Stow says despite the inability for counsellors to diagnose clients, they could provide essential care for those struggling while awaiting for psychologists with counselling costs proving a high barrier to clients in remote areas.
Provisional psychologists and mental health nurses are among those calling to be added to the MBS to meet demand for clients whose wait times are increasing with many waiting three months for initial consultations.